Aries and Libra compatibility

Love and romance scores 58. The angle has the largest weight in this facet and brings half its value; the elements lift the figure slightly.

Ptolemy calls the opposition discordant, as a configuration between “signs not of the same kind, but of different natures and sexes”. One chapter earlier, though, he writes that “the signs of Aries and Libra are consequently considered to be masculine and diurnal”. Pointing out the tension is our observation; he does not remark on it.

Of the rulers, he says that “Venus, possessing a favourable temperament”, takes Taurus and Libra as her houses, while Aries is a house of Mars. Alan Leo ties Libra people to that planet: “They have always a kind and amiable disposition, expressing the Venus side of their nature more than any other”. Of Aries people he says “they make splendid companions, being affable, genial and witty”. Setting the two together is our doing.

Trust is the lowest facet, 55, by a narrow margin. The elements, this pair’s best input, weigh least here, and steadiness is at its middle value because neither sign is fixed.

William Lilly lists Libra as “Moveable, Equinoctiall, Cardinall”, and the same three words stand in his line for Aries in another order. He is giving the qualities of signs for judging a chart, not describing people.

Alan Leo writes of Libra people that “they are always just and generous”, and that they “realise the justice of all things”. His sentence on Aries is conditional: “When not living up to the highest strength of their character, they have a tendency to jealousy, they expect loyalty from others and may be somewhat exacting in this respect.” In our reading one portrait is about fairness and the other about loyalty demanded.

Communication comes to 59. Elements weigh most in this facet, which helps, and adaptability adds its halfway value.

Alan Leo’s Libra people are “remarkable for their powers of comparison; they seem to be able to weigh and balance all things mentally”. The sign’s aim, he says, is “to seek equilibrium, and this causes them to love harmony so much”. His Aries people are “often combative and assertive”. A lover of harmony beside a lover of argument is how we read the two, and the contrast is ours.

Emotions is the highest facet at 61, because the elements make up nearly half of it.

Lilly’s two lines show where fire and air meet and where they part. Aries is “hot and dry”, Libra “hot and moyst, Sanguine”. They share heat and differ in the second quality; the comparison of his words is ours.

In a sentence on Libra people “working along personal lines”, Alan Leo calls them “usually very even-tempered”. Aries people “have great mental energy but are inclined to be very headstrong and impulsive”. Evenness beside impulse is our summary of two separate chapters.

Values scores 58, level with love. Steadiness and the angle each give half of their share, and the elements a little more.

Both of Alan Leo’s portraits, as we read them, speak of ideals. “This sign gives extreme ideality”, he writes of Aries. Libra people “seem to be ever striving to manifest that which must be attained by all humanity”, which he goes on to name as compassion. Our reading is that the first ideal is described as a quality of mind and the second as a feeling towards others.

Shared activities comes to 59. The elements count most; adaptability, which this facet also uses, stays at the midpoint for two cardinal signs.

Alan Leo’s Aries people “can always be relied upon to provide plenty of entertainment”, and he also calls them “very self-willed”. His Libra people are “courteous, agreeable and very pleasant persons”. We read that as one sign that proposes and one that goes along, a reading he does not make himself.